US5168802A - Apparatus for peeling fruits and vegetables - Google Patents
Apparatus for peeling fruits and vegetables Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US5168802A US5168802A US07/855,609 US85560992A US5168802A US 5168802 A US5168802 A US 5168802A US 85560992 A US85560992 A US 85560992A US 5168802 A US5168802 A US 5168802A
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- peeling
- fingers
- elements
- vegetables
- finger
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- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
- A23N—MACHINES OR APPARATUS FOR TREATING HARVESTED FRUIT, VEGETABLES OR FLOWER BULBS IN BULK, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PEELING VEGETABLES OR FRUIT IN BULK; APPARATUS FOR PREPARING ANIMAL FEEDING- STUFFS
- A23N7/00—Peeling vegetables or fruit
- A23N7/02—Peeling potatoes, apples or similarly shaped vegetables or fruit
Definitions
- This invention relates generally to apparatus for peeling fruits and vegetables. More particularly, it relates to apparatus for removing the skin from such fruits and vegetables on which the skin has already been loosened by immersion in a hot liquid solution, by steam, or by steam and vacuum.
- the fruits and vegetables which may typically include apricots, nectarines, plums, applies, pears, tomatoes, potatoes or other types, are initially immersed in a hot caustic solution or treated with steam, which causes the peel to be loosened from the flesh of the fruit or vegetable but not removed from it.
- a number of different methods have been developed to complete the removal of the skin from the fruit or vegetable.
- a common method is the use of storing jets of water that flush the loosened peel from the fruit or vegetable. While this procedure is effective, it produces large volumes of waste liquid containing the water from the jets, the pieces of peel and traces of the caustic solution. This waste liquid presents disposal and pollution problems that are becoming unacceptable for commercial operations.
- a set of flexible, elongate peeling enhancement fingers is mounted above a plurality of rotatably driven peeling elements.
- the rotatable peeling elements have axes of rotation that are generally parallel with one another and extend generally horizontally.
- Each peeling element has a means for engaging the peel of the fruits and vegetables.
- the flexible and elongate fingers have a first end and a second end, with the first end of the fingers being supported by a support means above the peeling elements.
- the fingers extend generally toward the peeling elements, so that the second ends of the fingers are each located proximal to an adjacent pair of the peeling elements.
- FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of this invention
- FIG. 2 is a detailed fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a peeling enhancement finger of FIGS. 1 and 2;
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one of the peeling discs of FIGS. 1 and 2.
- FIGS. 1 through 4 of the drawings A particularly preferred embodiment of the improved peeling apparatus of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4 of the drawings, in which the apparatus is generally indicated as 1.
- This apparatus comprises a support means, suitably in the form of a support frame 2, that may be formed in any convenient and conventional manner, such as by welded sheet metal or the like.
- a plurality of rotatably driven peeling elements generally indicated by reference numeral 3, extending horizontally and having substantially parallel axes of rotation A.
- the peeling elements 3 are mounted to the support frame 2 in a conventional manner, such as that described by the applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,372, which discloses a conventional drive system having an electric motor with a gear reducer that is connected through a series of chains and sprockets to peeling elements.
- the drive system in the current invention is generally indicated as 5.
- the peeling elements in this preferred embodiment comprise a plurality of means for engaging the peel of the fruits and vegetables, conveniently pairs of adjacent discs 6 mounted on shafts 4 and 4b.
- the peeling elements may be adjacent pairs of rollers that pinch and pull the loosened peel between adjacent rollers to remove the peel from the fruit or vegetable, in a manner such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,096.
- Other suitable means for engaging the peel that are known in the art may also be used.
- the shafts are fabricated of a suitable material such as a steel alloy and, in this embodiment may comprise a first set 4a and a second set 4b with one of the second set of shafts 4b interposed between each adjacent pair of the first set of shafts 4a. This arrangement, along with the drive system 5, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,372.
- the discs 6 on each shaft 4a preferably are axially staggered with respect to the discs 6 on the adjacent shaft 4b, and those shafts 4 are positioned to provide for interleaving of the discs on adjacent such shafts 4a and 4b, as shown most clearly in FIG. 2.
- Each of these discs 6 is affixed in a conventional manner to its respective shaft 4 such that rotation of the shaft 4 will effect the same rotation of each of the discs 6 thereon.
- each of the peeling discs 6 comprises a radially extending portion 10 of a conventional polymeric material such as synthetic rubber or the like, having a predetermined thickness and sufficient flexibility to deflect upon engagement with an item to be peeled, as shown in FIG. 2.
- Disc 6 has a central aperture 12 surrounded by a thickened hub 14 to support the disc 6 on its respective shaft 4a or 4b. The thickness of this hub portion 14 is also selected to provide appropriate spacing between adjacent such discs 6 when the discs 6 are stacked on a shaft 4 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
- each peeling disc 6 also includes a plurality of generally radially extending thickened rib portions 16 that extend outwardly from the shaft 4 or hub portion 14 to a point proximal to the outer periphery of the disc 6.
- the peeling discs 6 also include thickened annular rim portion 18 extending about the outer periphery of the disc 6. As shown most clearly in FIG. 4, the radially outermost portion of each of the rib portions 16 preferably intersects the thickened rim portion 18.
- each of the peeling discs 6 of this embodiment suitably also include a plurality of projections 20 extending generally axially outwardly of at least one of the rib portions 16, and suitably from the thickened rim portion 18, whereby those projections 20 provide additional roughness to the surface of the disc 6 to assist in the peeling action thereof.
- the first ends 26 are conveniently mounted on a shaft 24 having an axis that extends generally parallel to the axes of rotation A of the peeling elements 3.
- the first ends 26 may be mounted on any convenient structure that provides such support to the first ends 26 of the fingers 22.
- the shaft 24 is supported above the shafts 4 by attachment to the support frame 2.
- the first ends 26 of the fingers 22 are connected to the shaft 24 so that the fingers 22 extend generally toward the discs 6, and the second end 28 of each finger 22 extends between a respective pair of adjacent peeling elements, which, in this embodiment, are discs 6.
- each finger 22 may be mounted directly to the shaft 24 by clamping, insertion of the first end 26 into a receptacle or other means known in the art
- each finger is mounted to or molded integrally with a spacer 30 that has a polygonal opening 32 therethrough and that is sized and configured to be received upon the shaft 24.
- the spacer 30 has a predetermined thickness which is sized to provide the appropriate spacing between the adjacent fingers 22 when mounted on the shaft 24 to ensure that the second end 28 of each of the fingers 22 extends between a respective pair of adjacent discs 6.
- one shaft 24 holding a plurality of fingers 22 is used in conjunction with every third row of peeling elements 3.
- three rows of fingers and nine peeling elements are shown for illustration purposes.
- a bed typically containing 30 rows of peeling means 3 and 9 rows of fingers 22 may provide the best results.
- Each finger 22 preferably has a roughened surface portion, conveniently a plurality of projections 34, that are provided to improve the efficiency of the skin removal process.
- the projections that extend vertically downward toward the fruit (not shown) are shorter than the adjacent projections.
- Each elongate finger 22 is generally circular in cross section and has a central axis extending longitudinally thereof, and the projections 34 extend generally radially outwardly from the axis of the finger 22.
- the size of the projections 34, or other types of roughened surfaces, including but not restricted to sandpaper-like areas, scraper-like projections and so forth, is determined by the type of skin of the fruit or vegetable being peeled.
- Each of the fingers 22 may suitably be formed of a resiliently flexible synthetic polymeric material which must be capable of withstanding the cleaning necessary to maintain sanitary conditions, particularly if the produce is not to be washed after being peeled.
- the material preferably has a highly elastic memory, so that it retains its original shape.
- FIG. 1 The unit illustrated in FIG. 1 is elevated at the end at which the fruit or vegetables are introduced into the peeling apparatus (left end in FIG. 1) so that the produce slowly tumbles down the inclined bed of the peeling discs 6 to the discharge gap 36 at the right end of FIG. 1.
- differing rotational speeds are applied to alternating shafts 4a and 4b, which preferably rotate in a counter-clockwise direction when viewed as in FIG. 1, and thus rotate the peeling discs 6 mounted thereon in the same fashion.
- Such differing rotational speeds serve to alternately accelerate and decelerate the motion of the fruit or vegetables as they tumble down the incline of the machine, increasing the frictional engagement and peeling action of the discs 6.
- the item may also be engaged by a flexible finger 22, which applies pressure to the item forcing it to more fully engage the pair of discs 6, resulting in increased contact with the projections 20 of the discs 6 and therefore more efficient loosening and removal of the skin.
- the projections 34 on the second end 28 of the fingers 22 further abrade and scrape the skin from the item. Due to the flexibility of the fingers, as the item advances past a finger 22, the finger 22 may move from engagement with the top portion of the item to engage the side of the item, providing a rotational movement to the item. This rotation of the item is generally transverse to the direction of advancement of the items down the incline so that different portions of the skin of the items are now engaged by the discs 6. Thus, most areas of the skin of the fruits or vegetables are exposed to the scraping and abrading action for a more complete removal of the skin in a shorter period of time.
- the fruit or vegetable peel that is removed during this process falls between the spaced shafts 4a and 4b, which are positioned sufficiently closely to prevent the fruit or vegetable items from falling through. These portions of the peel are then collected in a suitable receptacle for subsequent disposal or use as desired.
- the peeled fruits or vegetables are discharged from the apparatus by falling through the space, discharge gap 36, between the last shaft 4b and the drive shaft 4c. The peeled fruit or vegetables are collected into a suitable receptacle for further processing.
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- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Food Science & Technology (AREA)
- Polymers & Plastics (AREA)
- Apparatuses For Bulk Treatment Of Fruits And Vegetables And Apparatuses For Preparing Feeds (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims (10)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US07/855,609 US5168802A (en) | 1992-03-20 | 1992-03-20 | Apparatus for peeling fruits and vegetables |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US07/855,609 US5168802A (en) | 1992-03-20 | 1992-03-20 | Apparatus for peeling fruits and vegetables |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US5168802A true US5168802A (en) | 1992-12-08 |
Family
ID=25321682
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US07/855,609 Expired - Fee Related US5168802A (en) | 1992-03-20 | 1992-03-20 | Apparatus for peeling fruits and vegetables |
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US (1) | US5168802A (en) |
Cited By (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5780088A (en) * | 1997-01-17 | 1998-07-14 | David R. Zittel | Electric motor driven abrasive roller peeler and cleaning machine |
US5942271A (en) * | 1995-02-16 | 1999-08-24 | To & Mma B.V. | Method for the removal of skins from fruits or vegetables by vapour explosion |
US20050284311A1 (en) * | 2004-06-24 | 2005-12-29 | Politino Mauricio F | Pitting machine comprising a punching head which performs a curvilinear oscillatory movement in synchronization with the translation movement of fruits to be pitted |
US20070003676A1 (en) * | 2005-06-30 | 2007-01-04 | Hougland Jerry M | Apparatus and method for peeling agricultural products having skins |
US20070110863A1 (en) * | 2005-11-16 | 2007-05-17 | Moore Richard E | Avocado de-skinning apparatus |
US20090199726A1 (en) * | 2005-11-16 | 2009-08-13 | Richard Moore | Avocado de-skinning apparatus |
US20100071569A1 (en) * | 2005-11-16 | 2010-03-25 | Moore Richard E | Avocado pulper |
US8967039B2 (en) | 2009-12-01 | 2015-03-03 | Richard Moore | Avocado skinning and pulping device |
CN112641316A (en) * | 2020-12-11 | 2021-04-13 | 无锡职业技术学院 | Anti-blocking and anti-sputtering banana peeling cutter disc structure device |
Citations (15)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US516479A (en) * | 1894-03-13 | Frederick dresser | ||
US983691A (en) * | 1910-03-09 | 1911-02-07 | Ernest L De Long | Machine for washing fruit. |
US1095942A (en) * | 1913-08-19 | 1914-05-05 | J S Long | Fruit-washing machine. |
US1226418A (en) * | 1916-10-12 | 1917-05-15 | Josephine Trust | Vegetable and fruit peeling machine. |
US1274663A (en) * | 1918-05-31 | 1918-08-06 | John Auer | Fruit and vegetable peeling brush. |
US1452738A (en) * | 1922-08-11 | 1923-04-24 | William J Hoberg | Abrasive device |
US2228410A (en) * | 1939-06-30 | 1941-01-14 | Fmc Corp | Method of retarding decay of fresh fruits and vegetables |
US2792005A (en) * | 1954-07-15 | 1957-05-14 | Edward L Lee | Husking machine |
DE2602249A1 (en) * | 1975-02-03 | 1976-08-05 | Goudsche Machinefabriek Bv | SHEAR DEVICE |
US4068574A (en) * | 1974-03-18 | 1978-01-17 | Amstad John H | Continuous peeling apparatus |
US4444096A (en) * | 1982-10-29 | 1984-04-24 | Imdec S.R.L. | Fruit peeling rollers |
US4509414A (en) * | 1983-08-26 | 1985-04-09 | Magnuson Corporation | Stemming and peeling apparatus |
US4770887A (en) * | 1987-06-01 | 1988-09-13 | Tri/Valley Growers | Tomato stem and peel device and process |
US4990353A (en) * | 1986-01-21 | 1991-02-05 | Goudsche Machinefabriek B.V. | Method of pre-washing and after-washing tuberous products or peeling thereof and an apparatus for performing the method |
US5033372A (en) * | 1990-11-27 | 1991-07-23 | Imdec, S.A. | Apparatus for peeling fruits and vegetables |
-
1992
- 1992-03-20 US US07/855,609 patent/US5168802A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (15)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US516479A (en) * | 1894-03-13 | Frederick dresser | ||
US983691A (en) * | 1910-03-09 | 1911-02-07 | Ernest L De Long | Machine for washing fruit. |
US1095942A (en) * | 1913-08-19 | 1914-05-05 | J S Long | Fruit-washing machine. |
US1226418A (en) * | 1916-10-12 | 1917-05-15 | Josephine Trust | Vegetable and fruit peeling machine. |
US1274663A (en) * | 1918-05-31 | 1918-08-06 | John Auer | Fruit and vegetable peeling brush. |
US1452738A (en) * | 1922-08-11 | 1923-04-24 | William J Hoberg | Abrasive device |
US2228410A (en) * | 1939-06-30 | 1941-01-14 | Fmc Corp | Method of retarding decay of fresh fruits and vegetables |
US2792005A (en) * | 1954-07-15 | 1957-05-14 | Edward L Lee | Husking machine |
US4068574A (en) * | 1974-03-18 | 1978-01-17 | Amstad John H | Continuous peeling apparatus |
DE2602249A1 (en) * | 1975-02-03 | 1976-08-05 | Goudsche Machinefabriek Bv | SHEAR DEVICE |
US4444096A (en) * | 1982-10-29 | 1984-04-24 | Imdec S.R.L. | Fruit peeling rollers |
US4509414A (en) * | 1983-08-26 | 1985-04-09 | Magnuson Corporation | Stemming and peeling apparatus |
US4990353A (en) * | 1986-01-21 | 1991-02-05 | Goudsche Machinefabriek B.V. | Method of pre-washing and after-washing tuberous products or peeling thereof and an apparatus for performing the method |
US4770887A (en) * | 1987-06-01 | 1988-09-13 | Tri/Valley Growers | Tomato stem and peel device and process |
US5033372A (en) * | 1990-11-27 | 1991-07-23 | Imdec, S.A. | Apparatus for peeling fruits and vegetables |
Cited By (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5942271A (en) * | 1995-02-16 | 1999-08-24 | To & Mma B.V. | Method for the removal of skins from fruits or vegetables by vapour explosion |
US5780088A (en) * | 1997-01-17 | 1998-07-14 | David R. Zittel | Electric motor driven abrasive roller peeler and cleaning machine |
US20050284311A1 (en) * | 2004-06-24 | 2005-12-29 | Politino Mauricio F | Pitting machine comprising a punching head which performs a curvilinear oscillatory movement in synchronization with the translation movement of fruits to be pitted |
US7320280B2 (en) * | 2004-06-24 | 2008-01-22 | Mauricio Francisco Politino | Pitting machine comprising a punching head which performs a curvilinear oscillatory movement in synchronization with the translation movement of fruits to be pitted |
US20070003676A1 (en) * | 2005-06-30 | 2007-01-04 | Hougland Jerry M | Apparatus and method for peeling agricultural products having skins |
US7615243B2 (en) | 2005-06-30 | 2009-11-10 | Hougland Jerry M | Method for peeling agricultural products having skins |
US7444930B2 (en) | 2005-11-16 | 2008-11-04 | Moore Richard E | Avocado de-skinning apparatus |
US20090199726A1 (en) * | 2005-11-16 | 2009-08-13 | Richard Moore | Avocado de-skinning apparatus |
US20070110863A1 (en) * | 2005-11-16 | 2007-05-17 | Moore Richard E | Avocado de-skinning apparatus |
US20100071569A1 (en) * | 2005-11-16 | 2010-03-25 | Moore Richard E | Avocado pulper |
US8967039B2 (en) | 2009-12-01 | 2015-03-03 | Richard Moore | Avocado skinning and pulping device |
CN112641316A (en) * | 2020-12-11 | 2021-04-13 | 无锡职业技术学院 | Anti-blocking and anti-sputtering banana peeling cutter disc structure device |
CN112641316B (en) * | 2020-12-11 | 2022-02-11 | 无锡职业技术学院 | Anti-blocking and anti-sputtering banana peeling cutter disc structure device |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: IMDEC S.A. Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:SILVESTRINI, JESUS ANTONIO;REEL/FRAME:006118/0572 Effective date: 19920424 Owner name: IMDEC S.A. Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:MORSUCCI, JUAN CARLOS;REEL/FRAME:006118/0568 Effective date: 19920424 |
|
FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 4 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: IMDEC, INC., CALIFORNIA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:IMDEC, S.A.;REEL/FRAME:008401/0832 Effective date: 19970210 |
|
FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 8 |
|
REMI | Maintenance fee reminder mailed | ||
LAPS | Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees | ||
STCH | Information on status: patent discontinuation |
Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362 |
|
FP | Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee |
Effective date: 20041208 |